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Join me as I share with you three things about being on solar that I did not realize I would experience as well as our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event: Self Reliance Voices: Lessons from Legends

Sponsor 1: InvestableWealth.com

Sponsor 2: EMPSHIELD.COM, coupon code LFTN

Livestream Schedule

  • Tuesday Live with Hand Hewn Farms, 12:30PM CT
  • Wednesday Interview with The Canny Couple, 2pm CT
  • Thursday SRF Live: 7pm CT
  • Friday Homestead Happenings, 9:30AM CT

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • We’ve been eating lots of green beans because I lack motivation to make more effort
  • Makin Bacon
  • Still in a use it up phase and I canned so much more bone broth than w e need

Weekly Shopping Report from Joe

Dollar Tree

  • Drink coolers are partially empty i
  • Red Bull products for $2.50. 
  • Plenty of drinks on the shelves. 
  • The food coolers are mostly full too.

Aldi was rather crowded. Stock levels looked good, and we found everything we wanted. Staple prices were: 

  • eggs: $2.78; 
  • whole milk: $2.86 (-); 
  • heavy cream: $5.19; 
  • OJ: $3.29; 
  • butter: $3.69; 
  • bacon: $4.25; 
  • potatoes: $3.99; 
  • sugar: $3.09; 
  • flour: $2.29;
  • 80% lean ground beef: $4.59 (+).

Home Depot has  a lot of bulbs, vines, and onion starts in a row of islands in the front. The tool islands have lots of empty compartments. There are still specials going for Milwaukee 12V “Red Lithium” tools and batteries, with just a few of the Ryobi USB-charged tools left, and some 18V One+ items. Fire extinguishers area was full, including various smoke and CO alarms. 

A 2x4x8 remains at $3.38.

Untainted regular has dropped a dime to $3.599/gallon.

Frugality Tip from Margo without a t

Ever tried a new recipe and it ended up not what you thought it was going to be? Don’t throw it out, do something else with it. I recently tried a new humus recipe and it turned out like a soup. 

So I made some pasta, poured this roasted red pepper chickpea sauce on it, added some roasted tomatoes and a little homemade Italian salad dressing and boom, it is now a pretty darn good pasta salad. Maybe add some roasted chicken to it. The possibilities are endless… And now after writing this, I could have made a soup too. 

It can be frustrating to make something that doesn’t turn out like you want, but to me it’s more frustrating to throw good food away. Get creative, who knows you might accidentally make something you will make again one day. 

Operation Independence

  • Avoiding the need to buy a new appliance through appliance repair
  • Mechanical appliances and helpful video – NEED LINK FROM T – Sorry guys i will update it here when he sends it!!

Main topic of the Show: 3 Lessons Learned after 1 Month of Solar

Reference: HackMyHomestead.com

Background on the solar system and how we sized it. 

How long it took for it to work right and barriers to functioning that we ran into.

The lessons:

  1. Know Your Why, Don’t Be Rosy Eyed About The Savings, Choose Wisely
    1. Sized based on budget for resilience
    2. Developed to be scalable as in we can add batteries and panels if we like
    3. Reputable companies for equipment means we got a free upgrade when a new model came out
  2. Installing solar into an existing home will teach you things about the wiring that you had no idea about. 
    1. Found Bad Wiring
    2. Found Bad Grounding
    3. Needed to get some other things up to code for safety not just because of codes
  3. Access to the real time data helps you make wiser decisions
    1. Time of day to use water and why I have changed
    2. The clogged spin down filters
    3. Cloudy days make me even less happy than they used to
    4. Trimming Trees and the Big Picture
    5. Frosty mornings
    6. Snow and dust and panel cleaning

Bonus observation: Knowing the why and how it fits into my long term energy resilience plan has really helped me embrace the system, learn more about solar, and not have dispatched expectations. Also, batteries are WAAAAAAAY more important than panels. You do get a tax credit FWIW.

Make it a great week!

Song:

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

  • 4 TBS balsamic vinegar
  • 4 TBS shagbark hickory syrup
  • 3 TBSP sour cream
  • 1 TSP salt
  • 3 TBSP olive oil

Place ingredients in a pint-sized mason jar and securely tighten the lid. Shake well to mix the ingredients. Store in the fridge when not in use.

Hi Friends!

The late winter foraging classes were well attended and well received, but I know we’re all stoked about the signs of spring that are expressing themselves now. Let’s get a class underway at the end of March with so many plants emerging!

Details below:

Join us for a casual early Spring foraging class on our property in West Knox County on Saturday, March 30th from 12 noon until 3 pm. We’ll walk the pastures and wood line and work on some tree and shrub identification and see what early greens are beginning to emerge. Wear good shoes – it’s hilly but not especially steep and we’ll move about at a reasonable pace. Feel free to take notes and photos as we go along. We’ll also have some discussion and go over a few of my favorite foraging guides afterwards. Spots are limited, so please reach out early if you’d like to join us! Folks are always welcome to bring seeds, plants or other items to swap as well. We’ll plan to hold the walk unless the weather is unsafe/stormy.

Cost is $20 and you can pay in person cash or check or via Venmo @strongrootsresources

Email me strongrootsresources@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Direct Download

Today we talk about fencing decisions, the training center, a seed exchange next week and more with the Tactical Redneck.

Featured Event: March 16 seed exchange and potluck: https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/event/seed-exchange-and-potluck/ 

Sponsor 1: https://bit.ly/3MBBELx, Coupon Code LFTN

Sponsor 2: Harvest Right Freeze Dryers: https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1095.html 

Forage

  • Lots of chickweed and deadnettle
  • Watercress has been wiped out by flooding (But it will be back)
  • Dandelion flower and greens (Bitterness)
  • Plantain is up
  • Violet greens (A word on stems)

Livestock

  • Rabbit ear mites and ivermectin
  • Baby lambs are due so we keep expecting to see some
  • Duck coop daily hoe
  • 1 dozen chicken eggs for sale – just one 
  • Eggs are back at enough volume for T’s second dinner
  • Sheep look skinnier than we would like – increased their pellet
  • Goats looking for a new home

Grow

  • Seedlings are in
  • 15 minute homestead: Microswale 1 is fully prepped for mulch application and half way mulched
  • Round 2 of seedlings will happen this weekend/early next week
  • Longevity Spinach is putting off shoots for planting

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Steve helping with the ac foundation
  • Shooting day and holler neighbor dinner

Infrastructure

  • Pond fencing
  • AC Foundation
  • Rabbit coop

Finances

  • We finally have eggs for sale which means I need to make a sign
  • Time to launch to processing class

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

Advisory Board

Resources

 

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Janet Szabo from The Straight Stitch and Kerry Brown from Strong Roots Resources join me today to talk about building your lifestyle business and other things in this member spotlight episode.

Featured Event: https://selfreliancefestival.com/workshops

Sponsor 1: The Wealthsteading Podcast: InvestableWealth.com
Sponsor 2: HollerRoast.com

TheStraightStitchPodcast.com

StrongRootsresources.com

Opus Clip Affiliate Link: https://www.opus.pro?via=cecb62

Metricool.com

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community
Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b
Resources
Membership Sign Up
Holler Roast Coffee
Harvest Right Affiliate Link

Direct Download

Join me for a group discussion with John Willis of Special Operations Equipment and Jack Spirko about building the life you choose, current events, building a durable life, community development, business, getting started, health and more. 

Each Tuesday, we welcome a different guest to tell their story, as well as take your questions live. 

Featured Event: The Self Reliance Festival, SelfRelianceFestival.com

Sponsors:

Show Resources

TheSurvivalPodcast.com

Special Operations Equipment

Living Free in Tennessee

NicoleSauce.com

HollerRoast.com 

Main content of the sho

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

Direct Download

Today we talk about how to prepare for, plant and cultivate garlic because a listener sent a note in saying that she had struggled with this. We will also cover our usual Monday segments. And I have something to say about disappointing people and the word no.

Featured Event: March 16 Seed Exchange and Potluck, 1pm-3pm, FREE, https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/event/seed-exchange-and-potluck/ 

Sponsor 1: AgoristTaxAdvice.com/webinar

Sponsor 2: DiscountMylarBags.com

LFTN Live on YT: https://www.youtube.com/@lftn/streams

🎙️ Monday, 2pm, How to Plant and Cultivate Garlic

🎙️ Tuesday, 9:30am, First Tuesday Coffee Chat with Jack Spirko, The Survival Podcast, and John Willis, Special Operations Equipment

🎙️ Wednesday, 2:00pm, Interview with Jessica Kraft

🎙️ Thursday, 7:00pm, SRF Live

🎙️ Friday, 9:30am CT: Homestead Happenings with the Tactical Redneck

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Ky Sustainable Living Expo Presentation: Power Pantry Method
  • Phases of homestead pantry management: Beginning | Intermediate | Advanced | Pro
  • Curing Pork Bellies into bacon – see videos
  • Basturma update
  • Freezer Update

Weekly Shopping Report 2/26

We took our usual trip on Saturday, skipping Home Depot again. We really need our Santa Fe back from the shop to carry large or long loads, like 8′ wood, 10′ PVC, or a half dozen bags of garden soil in addition to our groceries.

The Dollar Tree drink coolers were in much better shape. Will they stay that way? Cue the theme from Jeopardy; they have not been consistent. Other aisles looked good; Sonia found a couple of minor things in there, the typical craft stuff or organizing accessories.

Although we did not go in, the online price of a 2x4x8 at Home Depot is still $3.38.

Aldi has larger crowds than previously, but still not too bad. There was plenty of Masaca, and more of the chocolate I like than I’ve been seeing. Staple prices were: eggs: $2.78; whole milk: $2.93; heavy cream: $5.19 (+50c); OJ: $3.29; butter: $3.69; bacon: $4.25; potatoes: $3.99; sugar: $3.09; flour: $2.29; and 80% lean ground beef: $3.99. The egg price is correct; same as last week, a full dollar higher than the week before.

Untainted regular gasoline is still $3.699/gallon.

Frugality Tip from Justin

I don’t normally think of it in saving money, more about using it all up. Which ends up being very similar in the end.

This tip is for the bars of soap some people use for the shower or at the sink. When the little piece is getting so slim it is getting hard to hold on to it, I don’t throw them away.

I use the technique of scoring from pottery to attach the little piece to a new bar of soap. It will stay there and wear down completely without breaking off and being wasted if done properly.

I get both the new bar and the small sliver nice and wet and soapy (perhaps use them in the shower). Then I use a comb to put scratch marks in both pieces where they will press together. Anything hard and pointy enough to make marks in the soap will probably work for this.

Next I press them together very firmly. I try to use my palms to press them together with no gaps. I also try to not let them slide around at this point, I want them to start welding together. After they have bonded a bit, I will add some more score marks around the seams of the two pieces. 

Once the pieces have been scored and pressed together I set them down on the soap dish to dry. The next day they are bonded as if they were made that way at the factory and the different colored piece of the last bar will simply wear down until nothing remains but the new bar. And the new bar will be welded onto the next ad infinitum.

Community Highlight: 

What to do when you disappoint people.

Sunshine Prepper

https://www.youtube.com/@SunshinePrepperTN 

Operation Independence: Let things go when you need to

Rams and goats oh my.

Main topic of the Show: Planting and Cultivating Garlic

Why we are doing this

How to choose your garlic: Hardneck vs soft neck

Sourcing Seed Garlic: Baker’s Creek, Seed Savers, RareSeeds

Example: https://www.rareseeds.com/garlic-music-1-2-lb

  • Seed versus bulbs

Preparing your planting area

When to plant

Mulching practices

Watering needs

When Are they Ready to harvest?

Processing Garlic After Harvest

Storing fresh garlic

Other ways to store garlic

Choosing garlic for replanting

A garlic business idea

 

Make it a great week!

 

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

Community

Resources

 

Garden Season is in the air! Join us for a potluck and seed exchange on Saturday, March 16 at 1pm. Bring a dish to share and seeds you have too many of.
Don’t have seeds but want some? JOIN US! I’ve got a bunch of seeds to give away.
We will meet under an outdoor, covered area with picnic tables and I will have Holler Roast Coffee made, as well as water.
There are composting outhouses on site and access to water to wash hands, etc.
We will also happily show you what we have done to get our gardens ready, or anything else on the homestead.
This meeting is a project of the Living Free in Tennessee Podcast and The Homesteaders Alliance of DeKalb County.

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Today we talk about changing our approach to sheep, mindset in assessing homestead finances, egg influx, the power of community and more.

Featured event: Last change for early bird pricing: https://selfreliancefestival.com/?aff=nicolesauce 

Sponsor 1: DiscountMylarBags.com

: 400;”>Sponsor 2: Mastersingers of Cookeville Unity in the Community Concert Sunday at 3pm, https://mastersingersinc.com/product/unity-in-the-community-viii/ 

Forage

  • Stinging nettle
  • Dandelion
  • No mushrooms this week but morel season is upon us

Livestock

  • The priority talk
  • The ram decision
  • Catching the baby ram
  • 5 eggs a day on the ducks and 4 a day on the chickens
  • Time to reset the coop

Grow

  • Seedling shelves are in – seedlings are not
  • Peas have not yet germinated
  • Swiss chard is starting to come on
  • IMO week

Holler Neighbors/Community

  • Chasing sheep as a neighborhood activity
  • Community connections through MAGS
  • 1 Million Satoshi give Away

Infrastructure

  • Fence Posts and Fencing
  • Pond fencing
  • Failed dishwasher and repairing vs replacing

Finances

  • Currently measuring in terms of not needing to buy food rather than generation profit

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. It makes a great Christmas Gift!

Community

Advisory Board

Resources